The need for international forensics collaboration was highlighted by the seizure the previous day of a staggering four tonnes of pangolin scales in Hong Kong, said to have been transported there from Cameroon.

“Forensic examination can provide valuable insights into such seizures, increasingly as techniques develop, providing information on their origin, and potentially uncovering incriminating evidence as to who was behind the shipment,” said Dr Ross McEwing, Technical Director of UK based TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network.

“Forensics experts have a small but vital role in the investigative process, but we must work collaboratively with likeminded counterparts from around the world to deliver the right forensic tools to support investigations and prosecutions.”

Professor Antoinette Kotze, Manager of Research & Scientific at NZG said “This was an exciting opportunity to engage with our colleagues from Asia to develop collaborative projects and showcase our government-supported wildlife DNA forensics facility here in Pretoria.”

Nick Ahlers from TRAFFIC said: “Promoting the use of wildlife forensic science is a priority output of the Wildlife TRAPS Project and meetings like this demonstrate how quickly dialogue between likeminded scientists and knowledge sharing can happen.”

A key focus of the meeting was the illegal pangolin trade between Africa and Asia.

Dr Jeffrine Rovie from the National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory in Malaysia said: “Our laboratory has received many samples of confiscated pangolin parts, some of which DNA evidence indicates have originated from African species. There are obvious overlaps between our work in this area and the analysis of African pangolin parts undertaken here in the NZG laboratory: we each have relevant knowledge, which means sharing our joint expertise is absolutely invaluable for supporting international enforcement efforts.”

ENDS

About NZGThe National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) as a declared national research facility provides unique and cutting-edge research platforms, supports research of strategic importance and contributes to growing a representativeresearch workforce through focused human capacity development initiatives.

About TRACE Wildlife Forensics NetworkTRACE Wildlife Forensics Network is a not for profit organization based in the United Kingdom working to promote the use of forensic science in wildlife crime prosecutions and wildlife trade monitoring through the delivery of training, capacity building and forensic test development projects.www.tracenetwork.org

About TRAFFICTRAFFIC is a non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. TRAFFIC is a strategic alliance between WWF and IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. www.traffic.org

Wildlife-TRAPSThe USAID-funded Wildlife Trafficking, Response, Assessment and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS) Project is an initiative that is designed to secure a transformation in the level of co-operation between an international community of stakeholders who are impacted by illegal wildlife trade between Africa and Asia. The project is designed to increase understanding of the true character and scale of the response required, to set priorities, identify intervention points, and test non-traditional approaches with project partners.